Fireworks Excite, City Manager Says Goodbye at Hazelwood's Annual Celebration

The City of Hazelwood named its Fourth of July fireworks show after Edwin G. Carlstrom who is retiring from being the city’s manager after 34 years. 

Hazelwood Mayor Matthew Robinson addressed the crowd at White Birch Park and officially proclaimed the event as the Edwin G. Carlstrom Fireworks Show.

Carlstrom told the crowd Saturday before lighting the fireworks fuse, he takes great pride in the work he's done as city manager.

"I'd like to thank the mayor and city of Hazelwood for honoring me," he told the crowd. "I have really enjoyed working for this city, and I know that this city has a great future."

Tim Davidson, the city's communications cordinator told Patch Carlstrom is the longest serving city manager in the state's history.

While Carlstrom has been at the helm as city manager, Hazelwood has also tripled in size from 5 miles to 16 miles. Carlstrom also said to Thursday's crowd he was proud of the growth in residents.

"When I came and started working for the City of Hazelwood there were only 15,000 residents," he said. "Now we have over 25,000 people living in this great city."

Carlstrom also mentioned during the 2012 budget public hearing the city’s assessed valuation has grown from $60 million to more than $500 million, ranking it #12 out of the 92 municipalities in St. Louis County.